On Wednesday 6th November, we hosted the official grand opening party for Native Space
After over a year of planning, networking, building and lots, lots more, our warehouse transformation was complete. Floor polished, furniture assembled, rooms staged and the doors wide open, ready to welcome everyone into our space.
Guests were welcomed into our ambient lounge area which we had kept a secret, and off of social media in the lead up to opening, so this was the first time for everyone seeing our design.
The oak paneling and array of wooden furniture amongst warm lighting creates a homely environment, a stark contrast to the empty, industrial warehouse we started this journey with.
Daniella, the very talented Pizzaiolo said -
“I love this place, it feels like i’m walking into a living room!”
Straight ahead, guests moved on through our spacious and open bi-fold doors and into our meeting room, which was dressed as a drinks and cupcakes station for the night! A popular spot for the evening.
Here guests could also collect their ‘pizza token’ to be used at the delicious Amo La Pizza trailer, positioned at the front of the building and creating a very tempting aroma in the air as our guests arrived.
With the pizza oven having been heating up for a couple of hours, it was ready to go and it didn’t take long for an orderly line to appear besides the beautifully decorated trailer.
It didn’t take long until our space was finally full of life - after several months of its only occupancy being builders, tools, and materials, it was just amazing to share our space at last, catch up with lots of familiar faces and meet new ones too.
Warehouse Suites
With everyone eager to take a further look around, the team began taking our guests on a tour of Native Space, and getting to know them and their businesses.
Walking past the beautifully presented, and well coordinated kitchenette, the space transitions from comfortable lounge to practical workspaces.
The remainder of the ground floor is divided into 9 Warehouse Suites, customisable spaces for businesses to tailor to suit their businesses needs.
To see people get excited and inspired about how the space could elevate their business is what it’s all about.
We had guests looking for space to turn into a creative studio, set up their production line and move their machinery out of their home, e-commerce businesses looking for somewhere to create, store and ship their products from and this highlighting our ongoing message that the possibilities really are endless.
Proceeding down the corridor, directly opposite suite 1, is the Native Space Studio.
The Native Space Studio
We of course knew ourselves the investment, time and energy that has gone into the studio and while we have been sure to openly and frequently discuss this additional amenity, it was clear from everyone’s reactions, that no one truly expected what they found inside.
One guest said
“Wow this really does look like a TV set!”
Upon entering the studio, our light and natural set was the star of the show. Guests were quick to take a seat and try our podcasting and camera equipment for themselves.
Our video monitoring screen meant they could see how they would appear on camera, the different angles available to them and the quality of what could be produced, all thanks to the thoughtfully arranged set and state of the art equipment.
Many began thinking about ways they could upscale their content creation within this space and what they might talk about on a podcast.
This is exactly what we wanted the studio to do, break down the barriers to creating top quality content for your business.
Our studio is available to hire for members and non-members, with a range of packages from room only, if you love the set but would prefer to use your own equipment right up to full equipment hire with everything you need for photography, videography and podcasting.
Pop-up Shops
Continuing down the hall, we next came across our pop-up shops.
This was something we always wanted to include in our opening event as it truly encompasses what Native Space is all about - encouraging and supporting small businesses and giving them a platform to elevate their business.
We invited 5 local creators to hold a pop-up shop and offered a variety of products from handmade jewellery, to candles and local art.
With our event being held in November, this was a great opportunity for everyone to purchase some fabulous gifts, which went down a treat!
Offices
After taking a look at the rest of the suites, we continued the tours upstairs to our offices (not without grabbing a top-up on the way!)
On what was once our open mezzanine floor, you can now find 5 offices, perfect for solopreneurs and small teams.
The ribbon windows along the right hand side make for some light and airy work environments and the opposing offices feature large glass panes so the natural light can stream through.
Jack from the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce said -
“Whether you are looking for a place to set up your business, dynamic office space, or a state of the art podcast studio, Native Space has what you need. Thanks for a great night! Here’s to new Peterborough workspace!”
Once taking a look around our space, it was fantastic to see those connecting with one another and sharing their kind thoughts on the space.
We are so thrilled with the turnout and response to Native Space and to have local businesses, friends and family all join our celebration, felt like a snippet into the future of Native Space, our events, and our community.
We would like to thank everyone for their support throughout our journey and as we enter this new chapter of Native Space. It means so much to us and we can’t wait for what’s to come.
If you couldn’t make the opening event, or would like another chance to take a look, you can go ahead and book a private tour. We look forward to meeting you, learning more about what you do and finding your perfect space!
